Bingo marking board

ABSTRACT

A bingo card has self contained marking means. The board has a series of slots that hold the markers and allow movement thereof. The slot ends are closed and the markers are stored on either side of the playing surface when not in use. The board is a twopiece construction and is adapted to prevent loss of the markers. Means are provided for displaying a game design along a surface of the board. One embodiment of the invention has a transparent plastic top and a card having the game design displayed on it removably insertable between the top and bottom.

United States Patent Taylor [451 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] BINGO MARKING BOARD [21] Appl. No.: 57,147

[52] US. Cl. ..273/135 BC, 273/ 136 F [51] Int. Cl. ..A63f 3/06 [58] Field of Search ..273/130, 131, 135, 136, 132, 273/153 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 814,653 3/1906 Healey ..35/74 X 1,174,219 5/1916 Young ..273/132 2,634,129 4/1953 Lohr et a1. ..273/121 R 2,948,535 8/1960 Ellman ..273/ 132 X 1,151,615 8/1915 Reibstein ..273/131 BA UX 642,374 l/1900 Shaffer ..273/130 E UX 1,113,639 10/1914 Jauch ..273/135 BC 3,383,112 5/1968 Crozier ..273/136 F 2,893,347 7/1959 Freiberg ..273/136 E UX Primary Examiner-Delbert B. Lowe Attorney-Polster and Polster [57] ABSTRACT A bingo card has self contained marking means. The board has a series of slots that hold the markers and allow movement thereof. The slot ends are closed and the markers are stored on either side of the playing surface when not in use. The board is a two-piece construction and is adapted to prevent loss of the markers. Means are provided for displaying a game design along a surface of the board. One embodiment of the invention has a transparent plastic top and a card having the game design displayed on it removably insertable between the top and bottom.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Pahnhd Sept. 5, 1972 3,589,072

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BEVERLY W. TAYLOR A 'I'TOPMEYS- Pmmd Sept. 5, 1912 3,689,072

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR BEVERLY w. TQYLOF? ATTORNEYS I BINGO MARKING BOARD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to bingo cards and in particular to an improved marking card in which the markers are self contained.

Bingo, long a popular game, is played on a board with 25 squares. Several types of bingo games can be played on a card, and the more common include four corners, straight, and diagonal bingo. In addition, games are played in which the object is to cover all the card squares. Consequently, as many as twenty-five markers are required. Present game boards generally use individual, loose markers of various types to record the number called. While these loose markers work well for their intended purpose, they can be disturbed easily, as when the game is played in a moving vehicle or when the board is jostled accidentally. Such movement disarranges the markers displayed on the playing surface and causes delay in the game. The markers are also easy to lose or misplace during storage.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a gameboard and marker system that can withstand motion without becoming disarranged.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gameboard and marker system that is easy to manufacture, simple to use, and low in cost.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a gameboard for bingo with permanently contained markers, along with a storage area for markers not in use.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a gameboard for bingo where both the board and markers may be stored easily.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the following description and accompanying drawings.

I SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention generally stated, a bingo card has slots open at one end where deeply grooved double disc markers are inserted. The markers are manipulated selectively along the slots as the game progresses. The slots, in the preferred embodiment, are closed at their open end by a bottom plate. The board is designed so as to provide a storage area alongside the playing surface for the markers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a top view of the board and marker arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in perspective of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 for one illustrative embodiment of this invention, reference numeral 1 refers to a top for a bingo gameboard on which a grid or game design 2 is shown. Top 1 is rectangular in shape and has a playing surface 3 and support edge 4. A plurality of slots 6 open through an edge 5, giving edge a scalloped effect, and extend across the surface 3 to a point just short of support edge 4. The game design 2 and slots 6 are arranged so as to provide one slot for each row of squares in one dimension of the game design, as can best be seen in FIG. 1. Thus, slots 6 may traverse game design 2 either horizontally or vertically.

Circular supports 7 protrude downwardly from top 1. In the preferred embodiment, four supports are used, each located near a corner of rectangular top 1. Integral with each support 7 is a pin 8. The supports 7, pins 8 and top 1 may be made of a single piece of molded plastic material, or the supports and pins may be made separately and fixed to the underside of the top 1 by any convenient method, for example, glue or other adhesive.

A bottom 9 is L-shaped in side elevation and has openings 50 positioned to receive pins 8. A short, upturned leg 51 of L-shaped bottom 9 abuts the top 1 near edge 5 and blocks the slots 6 in the finished board. Pins 8 extend through and beyond the thickness of bottom 9 and are coined over or otherwise headed to lock top 1 and bottom 9 together, the supports 7 serving as spacers. I

Five annularly grooved, double disc markers 10 are placed in each slot 6 prior to the attachment of bottom 9. Once bottom 9 is in position, the markers 10 are trapped in the board, but are free to move along the slots 6 in a friction fit. Markers 10 are constructed to receive the material thickness of top 1 in the groove of the double disc in a snug, friction fit. Intentional movement is possible while an accidental jarring of the board must overcome the friction fit before movement occurs.

Top 1 is of sufficient size so as to provide ample room for the grid 2 and storage areas 11 and 12. The markers are moved selectively as the game requires.

As is best shown by FIG. 3, simple construction is provided. Top 1, supports 7 and pins 8 in the preferred embodiment are molded plastic and the bottom covering 9 is a stamped metal sheet. The markers are inserted in the slots 6 and the ends of the slots are closed by the upturned leg of the bottom 9. Once pins 8 are coined over, the board and markers become inseparable.

Numerous variations in the construction of this invention, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made. For example, it is contemplated that a space 30 may be left between the top and bottom parts of the device, along one edge, so that interchangeable cards bearing various numbers or other indicia may be inserted and removed manually. A crescent notch 31 in the bottom may be provided to facilitate manipulation of the cards. Or, the indicia may be printed on a roll and pulled through slots on two edges by a take-up reel. The shape or construction of the markers can be changed. Thus, a resilient material or spring mounting may be inserted between a groove defining annular shoulder of the markers and the top to aid in gripping the top, or the double discs may be made square, for example. Similarly, different materials may be used in the construction of the game board. Thus, metal may be substituted for the plastic top 1, if the game indicia are printed on the top, or plastic substituted for the metal bottom 9, particularly if the device is to be placed around a printed card. Bottom 9 itself may be interchangeable. Thus, the game design can be printed on a cardboard sheet which is fastened to top 1. In one commercial embodiment of this invention, the open ended edge of top 1 is turned over, forming a platform to which bottom 9 is attached. Slots 6 widen along the turned over edge to permit marker insertion. The markers are secured by stops positioned near the turned edge. in addition, the playing surface may have decorative designs 53 imprinted in the playing surface 3 as shown in FIG. 1, for example. These variations are merely illustrative.

Having thus described the invention, what is claime and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A game board, which comprises:

a transparent top having a plurality of spaced, parallel slots in it, said slots opening through an edge of said top on at least one end of said slots, said top having a game playing area and a storage area distinct from said game playing area with said slots extending through said playing area and to said storage area;

marking means carried in said slots adapted for playing a game, said marking means being designed to project above and below said top;

a bottom, said bottom being adapted to close the open ends of said slots thereby locking said marking means within said slots;

means for fastening said top and said bottom to form a single unit while maintaining a separation between said top and said bottom in said game playing area, one of said top and said bottom having an opening in it allowing communication with said separation; and

means for displaying a game at said game playing area, said means comprising a removable card with a design inscribed thereon, insertable in the separation between said top and said bottom through said opening in one of said top and said bottom and resting in said separation between said top and bottom so as to be viewable through said top.

2. The game board of claim 1 wherein said marking means comprise deeply annularly grooved double discs which engage the thickness of said slotted top in their groove and are movable intentionally in a friction fit along said slots.

3. The game board of claim 1 wherein the means to fasten said top and said bottom comprise a cylindrical section and pin arrangement attached to the underside of said top, said pin positioned to extend through the bottom thickness, the pin being deformable for fasten- 4. The game board of claim 1 wherein said bottom has a finger notch through it, said notch adapted to aid in the removal of said removable card. 

1. A game board, which comprises: a transparent top having a plurality of spaced, parallel slots in it, said slots opening through an edge of said top on at least one end of said slots, said top having a game playing area and a storage area distinct from said game playing area with said slots extending through said playing area and to said storage area; marking means carried in said slots adapted for playing a game, said marking means being designed to project above and below said top; a bottom, said bottom being adapted to close the open ends of said slots thereby locking said marking means within said slots; means for fastening said top and said bottom to form a single unit while maintaining a separation between said top and said bottom in said game playing area, one of said top and said bottom having an opening in it allowing communication with said separation; and means for displaying a game at said game playing area, said means comprising a removable card with a design inscribed thereon, insertable in the separation between said top and said bottom through said opening in one of said top and said bottom and resting in said separation between said top and bottom so as to be viewable through said top.
 2. The game board of claim 1 wherein said marking means comprise deeply annularly grooved double discs which engage the thickness of said slotted top in their groove and are movable intentionally in a friction fit along said slots.
 3. The game board of claim 1 wherein the means to fasten said top and said bottom comprise a cylindrical section and pin arrangement attached to the underside of said top, said pin positioned to extend through the bottom thickness, the pin being deformable for fastening.
 4. The game board of claim 1 wherein said bottom has a finger notch through it, said notch adapted to aid in the removal of said removable card. 